Seasonal resident to be honored on 100th birthday

Hazel Halfman, who was surprised with a birthday party for her 100th birthday, right, gets a kiss from Irene Rezendes, center, as Barri Dorsey, left, looks on during the birthday party at Paddock Park South on Southwest 27th Avenue in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

Star-Banner Photo/Bruce Ackerman

By Andy FillmoreCorrespondent

Published: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 5:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 5:46 p.m.

A surprise party was held Wednesday at the Paddock Park South Mobile Home Park clubhouse to honor seasonal resident Hazel Halfman, who will turn 100 on June 12.

Halfman's daughter, Cathy Bayer, and about 50 park residents gathered under the guise of holding a send-off party for seasonal residents who are beginning to make the trek back to northern states.

Bayer, from Milwaukee, normally stays a few weeks here with her mother and arrived a few weeks early this year.

Residents of the park have come to know and love the strong-willed Halfman — not to mention Nicky, her 15-year-old cat and faithful travelling companion — during their visits from Michigan these past 15 years.

Halfman has lived at the park, from October through May, since 1987.

“It was a complete surprise but it didn't throw me,” she said about the collective shout of “happy birthday” as she walked into the room Wednesday. She had a white-and-pink corsage pinned to her blouse by party organizer Barri Dorsey.

Halfman is making plans to return to her two-bedroomom home in Redgranite, Wisc. with Nicky again this year around May 1.

She can still recall the World War II years.

“My husband served in the military and I had to take care of myself and two children, take responsibility,” Halfman said.

“Hazel is very active and played shuffleboard with us through last year. She plays cards with us every Sunday,” said Dorsey, a seasonal resident of the park from Dalton, Ohio, since 1987.

Halfman drives a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt for “in-town driving” but does not have a cellphone.

She was born June 12, 1913 near Fort Atkinson, Wisc., and graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha and the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a master's degree in library science.

Halfman pursued a career in teaching high school and later became a librarian at a public library in the area and eventually in the local high school.

The former Hazel Linton married William Halfman in 1936 and the couple had two children: William, who passed away in 2001; and Bayer.

Her husband, a journalist with the Madison newspaper, died in 1978.

“My mom was librarian at Menomonee Falls High School when I went there and she stayed until 1978,” Bayer said.

“I smoked for about 30 years but I quit 15 years ago. I'm in excellent health,” Halfman said.

Paddock Park South Home Owners Association president Gaila Hendrick said Halfman is an “extraordinary lady.”

Vi Farr, co-chair of the park's social club, described Halfman as “very competitive when she played shuffleboard and the sweetest person.”

Friend of four years Ruth Pitt said Halfman is “amazing.”

Park resident Merv Wisecup, 75, a Vietnam Veteran, called Halfman “spry,” while 22-year park resident Lee Zambelli, 86, said Halfman was a “lot of fun” when several friends from the park went on Caribbean cruises.

“I almost had to tie her down she was so wild. Seriously, she's very active and a good friend,” Zambelli said.

<p>A surprise party was held Wednesday at the Paddock Park South Mobile Home Park clubhouse to honor seasonal resident Hazel Halfman, who will turn 100 on June 12.</p><p>Halfman's daughter, Cathy Bayer, and about 50 park residents gathered under the guise of holding a send-off party for seasonal residents who are beginning to make the trek back to northern states.</p><p>Bayer, from Milwaukee, normally stays a few weeks here with her mother and arrived a few weeks early this year.</p><p>Residents of the park have come to know and love the strong-willed Halfman — not to mention Nicky, her 15-year-old cat and faithful travelling companion — during their visits from Michigan these past 15 years.</p><p>Halfman has lived at the park, from October through May, since 1987.</p><p>“It was a complete surprise but it didn't throw me,” she said about the collective shout of “happy birthday” as she walked into the room Wednesday. She had a white-and-pink corsage pinned to her blouse by party organizer Barri Dorsey.</p><p>Halfman is making plans to return to her two-bedroomom home in Redgranite, Wisc. with Nicky again this year around May 1.</p><p>She can still recall the World War II years.</p><p>“My husband served in the military and I had to take care of myself and two children, take responsibility,” Halfman said.</p><p>“Hazel is very active and played shuffleboard with us through last year. She plays cards with us every Sunday,” said Dorsey, a seasonal resident of the park from Dalton, Ohio, since 1987.</p><p>Halfman drives a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt for “in-town driving” but does not have a cellphone.</p><p>She was born June 12, 1913 near Fort Atkinson, Wisc., and graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha and the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a master's degree in library science.</p><p>Halfman pursued a career in teaching high school and later became a librarian at a public library in the area and eventually in the local high school.</p><p>The former Hazel Linton married William Halfman in 1936 and the couple had two children: William, who passed away in 2001; and Bayer.</p><p>Her husband, a journalist with the Madison newspaper, died in 1978.</p><p>“My mom was librarian at Menomonee Falls High School when I went there and she stayed until 1978,” Bayer said.</p><p>“I smoked for about 30 years but I quit 15 years ago. I'm in excellent health,” Halfman said.</p><p>Paddock Park South Home Owners Association president Gaila Hendrick said Halfman is an “extraordinary lady.”</p><p>Vi Farr, co-chair of the park's social club, described Halfman as “very competitive when she played shuffleboard and the sweetest person.”</p><p>Friend of four years Ruth Pitt said Halfman is “amazing.”</p><p>Park resident Merv Wisecup, 75, a Vietnam Veteran, called Halfman “spry,” while 22-year park resident Lee Zambelli, 86, said Halfman was a “lot of fun” when several friends from the park went on Caribbean cruises.</p><p>“I almost had to tie her down she was so wild. Seriously, she's very active and a good friend,” Zambelli said.</p><p>When asked if Nicky gets frequent flyer miles, Bayer said Nicky had “no comment.”</p>